Match preview - Everton vs. Liverpool - Merseyside rivals hope for derby-day boost

By Mushtaq Quraishi

These Merseyside giants lock horns once again on Sunday, with both having started the campaign in severely disappointing fashion. Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the prestigious Champions League has left several fans reeling, whilst plunging the most successful English club into even more financial misery. Their Merseyside rivals Everton on the other hand sit in fourteenth position in the Premier League, a considerable ten places below where they aspire to be. The duo have been stung by a whole host of injuries to their squads, an excuse which is arguably keeping Reds boss Rafa Benitez in his job, whilst Everton fans gradually wait for their stars to return so that David Moyes’s men can launch an assault on the top six. With the stakes so high for both teams, expect an increasingly tense and tenacious battle from this crucial Merseyside derby.

Everton - Influential midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov returns from a three-match suspension having been sent off against Aston Villa last month. The Russian has scored two goals in five games for the Toffees and will be crucial for Everton this weekend in an attacking sense. Midfield maestro Marouane Fellaini will also come back having served a one-match ban, as Everton’s midfield looks set to be strengthened for this massive showdown. Captain Phil Neville continues to miss out on around another two weeks of action following surgery on a troublesome knee. Steven Pienaar returned to training recently after two months on the sidelines and could possibly feature against the Reds. Defender Phil Jagielka is still some way off a return. Nevertheless, the Toffees appear to be in a stronger position than in previous weeks as more of the squad becomes available for this crucial encounter.

Liverpool - After their heartbreaking exit from the Champions League, Liverpool now face rivals Everton, still missing key players. Star striker Fernando Torres looks set to miss out having been on the sidelines for the past couple of weeks. David Ngog should start in the Spaniards absence, the French rookie in reasonable form ahead of the fixture with four goals to his name. Albert Riera and Ryan Babel are other injury worries, leaving the Reds frail on the left hand side of midfield. However, captain marvelous Steven Gerrard has now come through a couple of games unscathed and will lead the Reds against their fierce rivals. Alberto Aquilani should also play some part in the game. Rafa Benitez will be hoping for no further injuries to his squad as his side look to get back into the top four.

Expect a feisty fixture at Goodison Park as both arch-rivals are desperate for all three points in order to get their respective seasons back on track. Everton’s second half heroics against Hull was not good enough to get anything from the game and one wonders whether they will have enough in the tank to beat Liverpool. The Reds won their last game against European minnows Debrecen, however, going out of the Champions League may have sucked a lot out of the crestfallen players. With David Moyes welcoming back influential duo Bilyaledtinov and Fellaini, Everton look stronger in midfield than recent weeks. Nevertheless, Liverpool have a better team on paper and Benitez is clearly under more pressure than his counterpart. Due to the huge expectation and necessity to climb back into the top four, Liverpool will be favourites to edge what could well be a scrappy, passionate affair.

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